The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri
106 HELL. Cavto XXVIU. Behind them is a devil, who doth handle Most cruelly us upon his sharp-edged sword. Again submitting to its stroke this band all, When we have turned around this road abhorred ; Because the wounds are closed again, before. In front of him, we are again restored. But who art thou who o'er the rock dost pore, Haply delaying to thy pain to wend.
Unto thy sins already judged in store ?•' ^ " Nor death hath reached him yet, nor sin doth send Him unto torment," then my chief replied, " But full experience unto him to lend, 'Tis fit that I, long dead, should him now guide Through all the circles* of deep Hell's domain ; 'Tis true as that I speaking with thee bide. More than a hundred, when they heard that strain.
Stopped in the pit to gaze upon me there, Forgetting in the marvel even their pain. " Tell then my brother Dolcin to prepare. Thou who perchance wilt shortly see the sun, Unless he wishes here my fate to share, Sufficient provender ere snows come on, The victory to the Navarrese to yield. Which otherwise would not be lightly won.
In act of starting one foot he upheld, Mahomet the while that parlance he rehearsed, Then set it down, and moved again afield. Another, unto whom the throat was pierced ; The nose sheared closely off between the eyee. And in an ear who also was amerced. Who had remained to watch me with surprise. Amongst the rest, his weasand opened then. Streaked on the outside all with crimson dyes, And said, '' O thou whom crime doth not condemn.
And whom in Latin realms I erst did see. Unless thy likeness mocks me, as the same, Of Pier of Medicin remember thee If e'er thou seest once more that happy plain Which falleth from Vercello to the sea. • ^* Line 55. Fra Dolcin was the fonnder of a dissolnte sect in the time of Clement Y.
He preached the community of goods and women, and, witK some two thousand followers of both sexes, lived in the mountains of Noyara according to the principles he avowed. The depth of the snows in a severe winter depriving them of provisions, he gave himself up, and was bunt, with his mistress Margarita, in the town of Novara. Line 74. The plain of Lombardy.
Camo XXVin. HELL. 107 In Fano's town unto the noblest twain To Messer Guido and Angiolet make known, That if prophetic sight is here not vain, They from their ship will overboard be thrown, And near Gattolica be drowned by wiles ^ And treason of a ruthless tyrannous one. 'Twixt Cyprus' and Majorca's distant isles. So great a crime did Neptune never see^ By pirates or in Argolic defiles.
That traitor who sees only with one eye, ** And holds the land (the which that he had ne'er Seen is the wish of one that's here with me), For conference with him will call them fair, And then will act that 'gainst Focara's gale They never more will need or vow or prayer." •" And I to him : ** Now tell me, if thy tale Thou wouldst that I should upwards carry, who Is he who rues that sight as bitter bale ?
Then seizing with hid hands his jaws he drew One of his comrades, and forced wide his mouth, Crying, " 'Tis he ; he cannot speak to you. This banished man, removed from C»sar, loath. All doubt| affirming that when well prepared, Any delay to injury ever groweth. Ah ! how bewildered he to me appeared, There with his tongue shorn closely in the throat, Curion, who erst in speaking had so dared !
Then one, from whom both hands had been ofEsmote, Baising his maimed arms in the dusky air. So that the dripping blood his face did blot, Cried, *^ Mosca also in thy memory bear, Who said, alas ! a deed is crowned, when done. Which to the Tuscan race caused evil fare.
Line 77* Goido del Cassero and Angioletto dn Cagnano were invited by Malatestino da Bimini (the one-eyed traitor) to a oonference on some important bnsinees, and were drovmed nenr Cattolioa, between Fano and Bimini, on bifl orders. Line 89. Focara, a mountain on that coast, from which blows a wind very dangeroos to the navigators there. Line 97.
Dante, strook by Pier da Medicines allusion to a spirit who would wish that he had never seen the land of Bimini, asks who he may be, and learns that it is Curion, whose speech determined Julius CsBsar to proceed across the Bubioon — a river betmxt Bavenna and Bimini— in the words of liucan, *' ToUe moras ; nocuit semper differre paratis. Line 106.
The murder of Buondelmonte, the origin of the Black and White factions in Florence, was urged by Mosca Uberti. Buondelmonte being engaged to one of the Amadei, fell desperately in love with one of the Donatio
To which I 'joined : " And death unto thy own. Whence he, with grief on grief accumulate, Departed like a wretch whose wits are gone. But on the crowd to gaze I still did wait, And saw a thing, which without farther proof, I would have fear thus single to relate, Were't not that conscience doth not keep aloof That company so fair, which makes man free.
When pure at heart, as if in armour proo£ Certes I saw, and still meseems I see, A bust without a head walk onwards there As walked the rest of that sad company. The trunkless head it carried by the hair In's hand, just like a lantern dangling low. And it cried woe ! as on us it did stare. Himself he made the light by which to go. And they were one in two and two in one : How it could be He knows who rules it so.
When to the bridge's foot he straight had drawn, With all the head, he raised his hand on high In order that his words might nearer wonne, Which were : ** Now see the dreadful penalty Thou who goest breathing to behold the dead ; Any so great as this canst thou descry ? And that of me the story may be sped, Bertram of Bomio am I, know me well. Who to King John such evil comfort shed.
I made the son against the sire rebel ; Achitophel no worse to Absalom And David did, with instigations fell. Since I divided men so joined, I roam, Bearing my brain thus severed from the nerve Of life, whose essence in this trunk has home. The law of retribution here observe." whom he married in spite of his given word to the other family.
When the Amadei were consnltmg on what revenge they shocdd take for the insnlt* Mosoa quoted the proverb, " Cosa fatta ha capo. In the strife that followed the Uberti family were cluef sufferers. Line 184. Bertram, Viscomte de Hantef(^ in Gnienne, who incited John to rebel against his father, King Henry II. of England.
106 HELL. Cavto XXVIU. Behind them is a devil, who does handle Most cruelly us upon his sharp-edged sword. Again submitting to its stroke this band all, When we have turned around this road abhorred ; Because the wounds are closed again, before. In front of him, we are again restored. But who art you who o'er the rock do pore, Haply delaying to your pain to wend. Unto your sins already judged in store ?•' ^ " Nor death has reached him yet, nor sin does send Him unto torment," then my chief replied, " But full experience unto him to lend, 'Tis fit that I, long dead, should him now guide Through all the circles* of deep Hell's domain ; 'Tis true as that I speaking with you bide." More than a hundred, when they heard that strain. Stopped in the pit to gaze upon me there, Forgetting in the marvel even their pain. " Tell then my brother Dolcin to prepare. You who perchance will shortly see the sun, Unless he wishes here my fate to share, Sufficient provender ere snows come on, The victory to the Navarrese to yield. Which otherwise would not be lightly won." In act of starting one foot he upheld, Mahomet the while that parlance he rehearsed, Then set it down, and moved again afield. Another, unto whom the throat was pierced ; The nose sheared closely off between the eyee. And in an ear who also was amerced. Who had remained to watch me with surprise. Amongst the rest, his weasand opened then. Streaked on the outside all with crimson dyes, And said, '' O you whom crime does not condemn. And whom in Latin realms I erst did see. Unless your likeness mocks me, as the same, Of Pier of Medicin remember you If e'er you seest once more that happy plain Which falls from Vercello to the sea. • ^* Line 55. Fra Dolcin was the fonnder of a dissolnte sect in the time of Clement Y. He preached the community of goods and women, and, witK some two thousand followers of both sexes, lived in the mountains of Noyara according to the principles he avowed. The depth of the snows in a severe winter depriving them of provisions, he gave himself up, and was bunt, with his mistress Margarita, in the town of Novara. Line 74. The plain of Lombardy.
Camo XXVin. HELL. 107 In Fano's town unto the noblest twain To Messer Guido and Angiolet make known, That if prophetic sight is here not vain, They from their ship will overboard be thrown, And near Gattolica be drowned by wiles ^ And treason of a ruthless tyrannous one. 'Twixt Cyprus' and Majorca's distant isles. So great a crime did Neptune never see^ By pirates or in Argolic defiles. That traitor who sees only with one eye, ** And holds the land (the which that he had ne'er Seen is the wish of one that's here with me), For conference with him will call them fair, And then will act that 'gainst Focara's gale They never more will need or vow or prayer." •" And I to him : ** Now tell me, if your tale You would that I should upwards carry, who Is he who rues that sight as bitter bale ?" Then seizing with hid hands his jaws he drew One of his comrades, and forced wide his mouth, Crying, " 'Tis he ; he cannot speak to you. This banished man, removed from C»sar, loath. All doubt| affirming that when well prepared, Any delay to injury ever grows." Ah ! how bewildered he to me appeared, There with his tongue shorn closely in the throat, Curion, who erst in speaking had so dared ! Then one, from whom both hands had been ofEsmote, Baising his maimed arms in the dusky air. So that the dripping blood his face did blot, Cried, *^ Mosca also in your memory bear, Who said, alas ! a deed is crowned, when done. Which to the Tuscan race caused evil fare." Line 77* Goido del Cassero and Angioletto dn Cagnano were invited by Malatestino da Bimini (the one-eyed traitor) to a oonference on some important bnsinees, and were drovmed nenr Cattolioa, between Fano and Bimini, on bifl orders. Line 89. Focara, a mountain on that coast, from which blows a wind very dangeroos to the navigators there. Line 97. Dante, strook by Pier da Medicines allusion to a spirit who would wish that he had never seen the land of Bimini, asks who he may be, and learns that it is Curion, whose speech determined Julius CsBsar to proceed across the Bubioon — a river betmxt Bavenna and Bimini— in the words of liucan, *' ToUe moras ; nocuit semper differre paratis." Line 106. The murder of Buondelmonte, the origin of the Black and White factions in Florence, was urged by Mosca Uberti. Buondelmonte being engaged to one of the Amadei, fell desperately in love with one of the Donatio
To which I 'joined : " And death unto your own." Whence he, with grief on grief accumulate, Departed like a wretch whose wits are gone. But on the crowd to gaze I still did wait, And saw a thing, which without farther proof, I would have fear thus single to relate, Were't not that conscience does not keep aloof That company so fair, which makes man free. When pure at heart, as if in armour proo£ Certes I saw, and still meseems I see, A bust without a head walk onwards there As walked the rest of that sad company. The trunkless head it carried by the hair In's hand, just like a lantern dangling low. And it cried woe ! as on us it did stare. Himself he made the light by which to go. And they were one in two and two in one : How it could be He knows who rules it so. When to the bridge's foot he straight had drawn, With all the head, he raised his hand on high In order that his words might nearer wonne, Which were : ** Now see the dreadful penalty You who go breathing to behold the dead ; Any so great as this can you descry ? And that of me the story may be sped, Bertram of Bomio am I, know me well. Who to King John such evil comfort shed. I made the son against the sire rebel ; Achitophel no worse to Absalom And David did, with instigations fell. Since I divided men so joined, I roam, Bearing my brain thus severed from the nerve Of life, whose essence in this trunk has home. The law of retribution here observe." whom he married in spite of his given word to the other family. When the Amadei were consnltmg on what revenge they shocdd take for the insnlt* Mosoa quoted the proverb, " Cosa fatta ha capo. In the strife that followed the Uberti family were cluef sufferers. Line 184. Bertram, Viscomte de Hantef(^ in Gnienne, who incited John to rebel against his father, King Henry II. of England.
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